Pre-game & Lineups 6/9: San Francisco Giants Host Nationals – Vogelsong vs. Strasburg

Jun 4, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Vogelsong (right) talks to pitching coach

(right) during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Giants defeated the Reds 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants will host game one of a three game series at AT&T Park tonight at 7:15pm PT. Ryan Vogelsong will make the start for the Giants and Stephen Strasburg (5-4, 3.10 ERA) for the Nationals.

Vogelsong against the Nationals on Monday nights haven’t been favorable in the last two years. In 2013, Vogelsong fractured his hand swinging at a pitch and was in the midst of pitching his best game of the season (although the Giants shut out the Nationals 8-0). In 2012, Vogelsong started a downward spiral in August after allowing 8 ERs in 2.2 innings pitched against the Nationals. The Giants lost that game 14-2.

It’s doubtful we’ll see either of those scenarios play out in tonight’s matchup. Vogelsong has pitched over 6+ innings in his last eight starts and holds a 2.05 ERA in those 52.2 innings pitched. He’s been unbelievably accurate, unlike I’ve ever seen him, surprising the doubters and pleasing the supporters. Here’s how the Nationals look when facing Vogelsong.

Strasburg has looked great all season and has been consistent. But the 25 year-old RHP has looked good every year for the Nationals, since starting in the big leagues in 2010. He was the Nationals first round draft pick in 2009. Here is how the Giants offense looks against Strasburg.

The Nationals have had their share of injuries this year. Bryce Harper (RF) is on the DL with a torn ligament in his left thumb, Eury Perez (CF) is out with a left toe fracture, and Anthony Rendon (2B) is out with a sore left thumb. Even Gio Gonzalez (SP) has been out with right shoulder inflammation.

Buster Posey is back in the lineup today while Angel Pagan gets another day off (sore knee) so  Gregor Blanco will start in center field. Blanco has been batting .327 since the beginning of May.

Lineups

All the Giants do is win. They are currently 42-21 and still hold the best record in MLB. No other team has 40+ wins yet this season. The Athletics hold the second best record in the majors at 39-24. The Dodgers are 9.5 games back in the NLW.